There was a recent article in the Beverly Press which referred to Beverly Hills City Council term limits and indicated that past mayor John Mirisch is now termed out.

In fact, he has not been termed out because the recently passed Beverly Hills city term limits ordinance may only apply prospectively, not retroactively.

California Government Code §36502 (b) provides that a city’s proposal to limit the terms of City Council members shall apply prospectively only. And that state statute, which takes precedence over any city ordinance, was relied upon in the 2012 Attorney General Opinion of Kamala Harris, No. 11-401, in reinforcing the law that a city’s term limits apply prospectively only.

So let’s not count out past mayor John Mirisch because he is legally entitled to serve additional terms if he chooses to run, and he has demonstrated more concern for residents’ views than any other recent Beverly Hills council mem­ber so far.

Darian Bojeaux

Beverly Hills